I just love Kelly Clarkson. Despite my mocking of her largest fan base in the subject of this entry, I think she's just an unbelievable talent.

I'm 38 years old, and whenever I listen to her sing I find my eyes welling up with tears. That's just not right. One singer, no matter how talented, should not be able to do this to me.

But she does. My appreciation of her grew with each episode of American Idol, and reached its peak when she sang "I Surrender" with a voice that even as strained as it was still just blew me away. Then she followed it up with a performance of "Without You" that, as far as I'm concerned, was the best that song had ever been sung.

My love for Kelly has not lessened one bit since then. Even the horribly vapid movie she did with Sideshow Bob was a blessing because it got Kelly on my TV.